Baltimore working to improve public safety by reaching out to immigrants

Baltimore working to improve public safety by reaching out to immigrants

Program to connect immigrants facing deportation with legal help

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Updated: 6:31 PM EST Nov 15, 2017

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WEBVTT DEBORAH: THANK YOU.CITY HALL AND THE BALTIMOREPOLICE DEPARTMENT ARE TEAMING UPIN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE PUBLICSAFETY BY REACHING OUT TOIMMIGRANTS IN THE CITY.STAN THIS IS PART OF THE SAFECITIES INITIATIVEANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR.THAT HELPS THOSE FACINGDEPORTATION WITH LEGAL HELP.11 NEWS ANDRES HEPKINS JOINS USWITH HOW IT ALL WORKS.ANDRE?ANDRE: THE CITY HAS PARTNEREDWITH THE NON-PROFIT OPEN SOCIETYINSTITUTE ON THE PROGRAM THATWILL ALLOW IMMIGRANTS IFARRESTED BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENT AGENTS TO RECEIVEFREE LEGAL AID.FOUR ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVEDGRANTS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM,INCLUDING THE CAIR COALITION, CATHOLIC CHARITY ESPARANZ, THEPRO-BONO RESOURCE CENTER AND THECAREY SCHOOL OF LAW IMMIGRATIONINSTITUTCITY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS SAYTHIS IS IN RESPONSE TO AN UPTICKOF IMMIGRATION ARRESTS.TODAY POLICE COMMISSIONER KEVINDAVIS SAID POLICE SUPPORTIMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN THECITYAND CONTINUE TO FOSTERRELATIONSHIPS TO IMPROVE PUBLICSAFETY.>> THE BALTIMORE POLICDEPARTMENT REALIZES THENECESSITY RELATIONSHIPS WITHALL COMMUNITIES REGARDLESS OFIMMIGRATION STATUS.WE SIMPLY DON'T CARE THEPARTNER.HE WILL NOT PARTNER, NEVER HAVE,NEVE WILL WITH ANY FEDERALIMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENTEFFORTS.STAN: OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTEBALTIMORE ADDED THE FEAR IN THECOMMUNITIES IS NEGATIVELYIMPACTING THE CHILDREN.THEY'VE SEEN A DECREASE INATTENDANCE AT BALTIMORE CITYSCHOOLS OF STUDENTS WITHIMMIGRANT PARENTS.>> THIS IS A VERY BAD SITUATION.MANY CHILDREN ARE CITIZENCHILDREN, BUT REGARDLESS THEYARE NOT GETTING THE EDUCATIONTHEY NEED BECAUSE OF FEAR.STAN THE CITY'S INVESTMENT WILLBE MATCHED BY A GRANT FROM THEVERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE.OTHER FUNDS WERE RAISED THROUGHCHARITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEPUBLICAND WILL HELP ABOUT 900 PEOPLE.

Baltimore working to improve public safety by reaching out to immigrants

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The city has partnered with the nonprofit Open Society Institute on the program to allow immigrants arrested by federal immigration enforcement agents to receive free legal aid.

Four organizations received grants as part of the program, including the Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition, Catholic Charities' Esparanza Center, the Pro Bono Resource Center and the University of Maryland Carey School of Law Immigration Institute.

City officials said the effort comes in response to an uptick in immigration arrests. Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said Wednesday that police support immigrant communities in the city and continue to foster relationships to improve public safety.

"The Baltimore Police Department realizes the necessity of relationships with all communities regardless of immigration status. We simply don't care to partner, we won't partner, never have and never will with any federal immigration law enforcement efforts," Davis said.

The Open Society Institute added that fear in the communities is negatively impacting children. They said they have seen a decrease in attendance of students with immigrant parents at Baltimore City schools.

"This is a very bad situation. Of course, many of these children are citizen children, but regardless of whether they're immigrant or citizen children, they're not getting the education they need because of fear," said Diana Morris, with the Open Society Institute.

The city's investment will be matched by a grant from the Vera Institute of Justice. Other funds were raised through charity organizations and the public and will help about 900 people.